Print washer



S. DRUCKER PRINT WASHER June 36, 1942.

Filed May 22, 1940 Patented June 16, 1942 PRINT WASHER Samuel Drucker,

& James, Inc., Chicago,

Illinois Chicago, Ill., assignor to Burke 111., a corporation ofApplication May 22, 1940, Serial No. 336,529

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in print washers particularlyadapted though not necessarily limited in use for washing photographicprints, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide animproved washer of this character in which the centrifugal force of thewash water will throw the prints to the outside edge of the container ortank where they will contact a baffle or wall which operates to swingthe prints back to the center of the container, which operation will berepeated as the prints are carried around by the current of wash water,with the result that all surfaces of the print will in turn be exposedto the action of the water.

A further object is to provide an improved washer of this character inwhich the excess or overflow water will be drawn off from the bottom ofthe tank or container where the foreign matter, chemicals or typonaturally settle, thereby assuring an ever changing volume of fresh,clear water for the washing operation.

A further object is to provide an improved means for filtering theincoming water, and improved means for effecting a churning action ofthe wash water by the production of cross currents thereof.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention and inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device of this characterconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken on line 2--2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional 33 Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-4 Figure 3.

The washer consists essentially of a tank or container I preferablycircular in cross-section and may be of any desired diameter and of anysuitable depth. The bottom II of the container is convexed, and arrangedwithin the container adjacent the wall thereof is a vertical tube I2that is secured in position in any suitable manner and is provided witha closed bottom I3.

The tube is preferably of a height substantially equal to the depth ofthe tank or container and is open at its upper end. Threads I4 areprovided around the upper end of the tube onto view taken on line whicha cap I5 may be secured. This cap is hollow and has connected to it atubular member I6 such as a pipe, and at the other end of the pipe isarranged a nipple I'I that is adapted to be attached to any source ofsupply of water, such as a faucet or the like.

The tube I2 is provided with an inclined slot I8 so arranged as todirect the water which enters the tube I2 through the tube I6 to bedischarged into the tank or container preferably in a plane tangent tothe wall of the container and thereby cause the water in the tank toswirl around.

Arranged within the tank is an upright partition l9 that issubstantially equal to the height of the wall of the tank or containerand this partition forms a baflle which is eccentrically arranged withinthe tank. One end of the baflle is secured, as at 20, to the wall of thetank or container and the other end 2I is preferably secured to the tubeI2 so as to provide a space 22 between the bafile I9 and the wall of thetank or container.

At the bottom of the baffle I9 there may be provided a plurality ofopenings 23 any number of which may be employed so as to permit theliquid and the sediment or deposit to flow therethrough.

The tube I2 forms a closure for the end of the space 22 so that the washwater in effecting its exit through either of the outlets 2425 must flowthrough the openings 23 and into the space 22.

A series of discharge openings 24-25 are provided in the wall of thetank Ill and have communication with the space 22 between the baffle I9and the wall of the container or tank. These discharge outlets 24-25 arearranged at different elevations whereby the height of the liquid in thetank or container may be controlled or varied. A stopper or plug 26 maybe employed for closing either one of these discharge outlets 2425.

With this improved construction it will be manifest that the liquidbeing discharged into the tank through the slot or opening I8 in thetube I2 will flow around the tank creating an eddy and when the printsare deposited therein they will be thrown by centrifugal force outwardlyagainst the wall of the tank or container Ill. As they float around uponand in the liquid they will contact the wall or baflle l9 to be thrownor directed thereby back towards the center of the tank.

The bottom of the tank at its center being elevated by reason of itsconvexed shape will cause the prints when they contact therewith toslide down and outwardly towards the wall of the tank when they willagain be caught by the eddy and swirled around.

The centrifugal force of the water will cause the hypo which is washedfrom the print to be thrown outwardly and by reason of the convexedbottom II this foreign matter will be deposited adjacent the wall of thetank or container and within the space 22 where it will be drawn fromthe bottom of the liquid and will flow out through either of the outlets2425 from which the 010- sure 26 has been removed.

A cellulose element 21, such as a sponge or the like, is arranged withinthe tubular member I2. This element 21 when it is contacted with thewater will expand or swell and will substantially fill the adjacentportion of the tube I2 and it preferably extends over the slot or outletI8. This element 2'! serves as a filter to filter the incoming liquid.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claim, without departing fromthe spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

A print washer embodying a circular tank, a water inlet passage withinand adjacent the wall of the tank, said passage having an outlet fordischarging the water into and tangential to the wall of the tank, anupright eccentrically arranged bafile within the tank, one end of, theballle being secured to the wall of the tank, the other end of thebafile terminating adjacent said inlet passage, there being openings inthe bafile adjacent the bottom of the tank, and a water discharge outletleading from the space between the said bafile and the adjacent portionof the wall of the tank, the said inlet passage comprising an uprighttubular member closed at its bottom and provided with a slot in its walladjacent the bottom of the tank, said tubular member constituting aclosure for the space between the baflle and the container wall.

SAMUEL DRUCKER.

